Improvement in the manufacture of cigar-bunches



S. SCHOLFIELD.

improvement inthe Manufacture of Cigar-Bunches.

`N0. 129,599.- Patentedluly 16,1872.

, y 21m/ f eg/ff e TNTED STATES 'PA'r'r OFFICE.

SOCRATES SOHOLFIELD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,599, dated July 16,1872.

I, SooRAfrEs ScHoLFrELD, of Providence, in the county of Providence andState of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in the Manufactureof Cigar-Ranches, of which the following is a specification:

In the manufacture of cigars the primary bunches are always bound upsingly or in single lengths, the proper tapering form being derived fromoverlapping the fag-ends of the tobacco at each end of the bunch, bothends being very nearly alike. This method is defective, for the reasonthat the point and tuck ends of the cigarare so dissimilar, whereas inthe primary bunch they are formed by the -same arrangement of material,rendering it necessary to-break off one of the ends in order to form adesirable head. To do this properly the operative is required to feelalon g until the fag-ends and vacant spots are passed, which requires aconsiderable degree of judgment and consumes time. The iinish, andconsequently the price, of the cigar, being in a great measure dependenton the perfect symmetry of the head, renders the use of an automaticmachine for cutting off these ends unavailable, from the manifestuncertainty of its taking the cut at a portion of the filler where it isperfectly rounded out, unless the bunch is made so very long as to causea great waste of tobacco.

When it is understood that in feeling for the proper point, and breakingor cutting off the fag-ends of the bunch, nearly as much time isconsumed as would suffice to run on the final wrapper, the defects ofthe present mode of operatin g will be rendered fully apparent; whereas,on the other hand, if the end is cut off at a fixed length withoutregard to the condition of the ller, a decided lack of uniformity in thefilling of the points will be the result. In order to overcome thisdificulty some inventors have proceeded to stamp out the filler by meansof dies made in the proper cigar shape 5 but even by this processdifficulties and objections :are encountered, seriously detracting fromthe rapidity with which the work should be accomplished, since thestamped-out fibers are liabletoliecome disarranged by rolling in thebinding-machine, and as the overlapping end of the binder still remainsto be trimmed before the wrapper can be rolled on properly so as to forma finished point.

In making cigars by machinery it is highly essential that every movementrequiring dis criminating skill, and not absolutely necessary, should bedispensed with, in order that automatic working machinery may berendered available to perform the various operations required;therefore, in order to avail myself of the beneits to be derived fromthe use of such machinery, instead of operating upon a single length ofcigar-lling, as heretofore, I make my primary bunches in double ortreble lengths, the point-end of the cigar being then taken toward thecenter, where there is sure to be a surplus and uniformity of material.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a cigar-fillerbunch as ordinarily made, A being the filling, and B B the binder. Theline c c shows the proper point to cut in preparing the filler to formthe hea'd. This pointwill varygin different bunches; therefore it isusually felt out by the fingers of the oper ator, because, if done bymachinery, operating uniformly, the quality of the cigars when finishedwould prove somewhat inferior. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of theordinary cigar-ller after being broken off in the line c c and ready toreceive the final wrapper. Fig. 3 represents a double cigar-bunch, suchas I prefer to use-in carrying out my improvement, for 'the reason thata length of two cigars is better adapted to a leaf of tobacco for abinder than where three are used, and because a single cut is suicientto divide the long bunch into two properly-tapered cigar-bunches, readyfor use in the wrapping-machine. Fig. 4 represents this bunch out in twoand the ends tapered by removing the cylindrical ungulas d d. Fig. 5represents the same first cut in two, and then tapered, by removing asection of its interior ber, either in a wedgeor conical shape. Fig. 6represents the same separated by eans of an angular cut, leavin@ thepoint-ends of the resulting bunches dis milar. Fig. 7 represents thesame divided by being broken and then drawn apart, the short fag-endsleft being easily closed down to the proper point in thewrapping-machine.

I prefer in all cases to use the original ends a a for the tuck of thecigar, and the tapered ends ff for the point; but when three lengths areused both ends of the middle bunch will require tapering in order topreserve the proper uniformity.

It is an important fact that by the use of my improved method of makingcigar-bunches the capacity or amount of Work performed by the ordinaryfiller-machines may be doubleda result entirely due to the method ofWorking lherein described.

What I claim as my invention is= The improved mode of manufacturingcigarbunches by first forming 11p-the filler in lengths sufcient to makea number of bunches, and then, after rolling on suitable binders,dividing and 'tapering them, substantially as described.

SOCRATES SGHOLFIELD. Witnesses:

D. B. POTTER, A. R. ABBOTT.

